Cleveland 2020

Cleveland is a city on the rise precisely because it’s always changing. New additions to Downtown and the surrounding areas mark a city that’s constantly evolving, while anniversary celebrations show a community rooted in the storied past that made us what we are today.

Whether it’s a new addition to the skyline, groundbreaking cultural events or the thriving food scene, The Land will be better than ever in 2020.

2020 Developments

Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse

Quicken Loans Arena has a new name — Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse — and a fresh look in time for its 25^th anniversary, courtesy of a $185 million expansion and renovation project. All eyes will be on the buffed-up venue with a new glass atrium, gathering spaces and a glossy new exterior when Cleveland hosts the 2022 NBA All-Star Weekend.

New additions include:

• An abundance of premium seating including the Westfield Champions Club in the arena’s south end, the private theater boxes of the Huntington Legends Club at the north end, the biergarten-inspired Courtside Club and the crown jewel Bacardi Ocho Signature Lounge located across from the Cavs’ locker room.
• Authentically Cleveland dining options like Chef Rocco Whalen’s Fahrenheit, Symon’s Burger Joint by Chef Michael of the same name and Pearl’s Kitchen at LTK, a concept from Chef Tiwanna Scott-Williams and the Launch Test Kitchen at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, among many others.
• Eight destination hospitality areas offer 16 options for fans to eat, drink or hang out during events.
• The Power Portal – a 360-degree experience consisting of a passageway lined with 2,200 sq. ft. of LED panels with premium audio.
• 22 meeting, banquet, hospitality and events spaces, and so much more.

You’ll have be plenty of opportunities this year to experience the newly renovated facility and the many amenities it offers in 2020 and beyond. No matter what you come for, whether its sports, music or just to grab a bite and take it all in, the shiny new facility has it all.

The Lumen at Playhouse Square

The 34-story residential tower is glamming up the already vibrant Playhouse Square district and sure to become a central figure to Cleveland’s skyline with its striking glass exterior. The tower will bring 318 apartments, 550 parking spaces and 22,000 square feet of amenities for Downtown residents.

Sports

NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball 1st & 2nd Rounds | March 20-22

In 2020, March Madness descends on The Land as the Mid-American Conference and Greater Cleveland Sports Commission will serve as hosts for the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball 1st & 2nd Rounds, held in the newly transformed Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.

Topgolf Opens in Independence

If you’re an avid golfer, or simply looking for a place to grab a drink after work, Topgolf has you covered. This entertainment destination will have climate-controlled hitting bays, plenty of HD TVs and a sports bar for watching your favorite teams and a restaurant for mid-swing snacking.

Anniversaries

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s 25th Anniversary and Induction Ceremony | May 2

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame will celebrate its 25^th birthday in 2020, but its greatest hits may be yet to come. In 2019, the Rock Hall unveiled a $30+ million expansion that will add 50,000 square feet to the museum and link the adjacent Great Lakes Science Center. The museum also recently debuted The Garage, a hands-on, interactive space that lets visitors fulfill their dreams of rock god status.

The NFL Turns 100  

What better place to celebrate the NFL’s 100^th anniversary than the Canton-based Pro Football Hall of Fame? A multi-day centennial celebration will take place in September 2020—attracting thousands of football legends from near and far. A Pro Football Hall of Fame Village is also in the works, billed as the first-ever “smart city” around sports and entertainment (replete with football-themed hotel) to the tune of $899 million.

Cedar Point Celebrates 150 Years

A lot may have gone down since 1870, but all is right with the world as long as Cedar Point is still around. The epic amusement park marks its 150^th anniversary in 2020 with plenty of surprises in store. Among them: the new family-friendly Snake River Expedition boat ride, funnel cakes and other sweet treats from French Quarter Confections, great new food spots like Mac Shack and The Roost, and a new nighttime celebration to light up the Main Midway.

Cleveland Museum of Natural History’s Centennial | December 2020

Sure, it hasn’t been around as long as the dinosaurs that reside there, but the Cleveland Museum of Natural History will celebrate their centennial anniversary this year. The celebration will be marked by the completion of the museum’s plan to expand and transform the museum and other programming throughout the year.

Food and Drink

EDWINS Bakery

First, there was a fine-dining French restaurant, then a butcher shop and now, in early 2020, EDWINS Leadership & Restaurant Institute – a nonprofit that gives formerly incarcerated adults a foundation in the culinary arts – will debut a 2,100-square-foot bakery to the EDWINS campus in the Buckeye-Shaker neighborhood.

Saucy Brew Works

Saucy Brew Works quickly made its mark in the Hingetown neighborhood and it’s ready to make an impact in Independence. The 26,000-square-foot building, designed by Cleveland architect David Maison of Maison A&D Architecture and Design, will serve as both a restaurant and production facility for their beer.

Chef Karen Small of The Flying Fig

If you’re a self-proclaimed Cleveland foodie and fan of Karen Small, you’re in luck as the farm-to-table champion and Owner and Executive Chef of The Flying Fig announced she is opening a breakfast spot in the previous Jack Flaps space.

2020 Arts and Culture

Censored: Art & Power | May 16, 19, & 22

The Cleveland Orchestra is bringing a first-ever citywide festival centered on the performances of Alban Berg’s Lulu. Attendees are encouraged to think about the role of art in society, government censorship and prejudice.

Picasso and Paper | May 24 - August 23

The Cleveland Museum of Art never disappoints. Organized with the Royal Academy of Arts, London and in collaboration with the Musée national Picasso-Paris, CMA is bringing the groundbreaking exhibition Picasso and Paper to our city. The exhibition will showcase over 300 works spanning the iconic artist’s career.

Playhouse Square features Disney’s FROZEN | July 15- August 16

“Let it go” and head to Playhouse Square to experience Disney’s FROZEN. The Tony Award-nominated musical will bring its North American tour to the KeyBank State Theatre as part of the 2019-2020 Broadway Series.

Women and Politics

This being an election year, you should know about the history of the vote in Cleveland. The Cleveland History Center will show guests the history for the fight for the 19th Amendment, and the birth and growth of the League of Women Voters right here in Northeast Ohio.